summer festivals

for those of you in baltimore this summer, make sure you check out these festivals:

-july 11-13: 27th annual caribbean carnival at druid hill park-- free on friday, $5 on saturday & sunday (link). should be a colorful event. druid hill isn't always the safest place at night, but is generally friendly during the day. you can get there by walking about 15 minutes from the woodberry light rail stop.

-july 18-20: check out america's largest free public arts festival, artscape, at mt. royal ave and cathedral street-- by mica, accessible via the mt. royal stop on the light rail (link). i've heard this is really worthwhile, a wonderful gathering of baltimore's art community. dan deacon's collective wham city throws their alternative whartscape the same weekend for $12 a day (www.whamcity.com). friday night's show sounds the most impressive, with appearances by jana hunter, beach house and arbouretum.

-july 26: salsapolkalooza, a free neighborhood festival at the creative alliance in east baltimore (link). the creative alliance is a really cool place where creativity is both highly esteemed and readily available. this would be a highly enjoyable event if you are in the area.

-august 2-3: international festival and soccer tournament, sponsored by the city, held at the poly/western high school complex at cold spring lane in medfield (link). i am really excited for this-- it sounds like there will be quite an array of cultural performances throughout both days.

-august 9-10: festafrica at patterson park (link). the $5 festival includes dance and music performances, storytelling, arts/crafts, vendors and a soccer tournament. i'm not entirely sure what this festival is all about, but patterson park in east baltimore is a must for the complete city experience-- the view from the pagoda is awesome.

-august 16-17: the 80th annual saint gabriel festival in little italy should be a treat (link). $1 gets you into the authentic neighborhood festival, where you can sample food and play bocce ball. close to the inner harbor (and thus accessible in many ways, including a short walk from the convention center stop on the light rail or the end of many bus lines), this is just a cool neighborhood to explore.

-august 22-24: the baltimore american indian center's 34th annual powwow, held in patterson park (link). looks like an interesting melange of traditional and contemporary native american arts.